In The News

Overseas and Under Siege

August 18, 2009
Since 2006, Chinese immigrants have suffered a backlash of violence at the hands of locals in the Solomon Islands, Lesotho, and Algeria, among others. The reasons behind the widespread anti-Chinese sentiment range from cultural clashes to accusations of meddling in local politics. But a more fundamental reason could be rooted in economics, xenophobia notwithstanding. China’s sponsorship of...

Recession Stems Oft-Fatal Boat Migration to EU

August 6, 2009
Fewer Africans seek greener pastures in Europe because of the global recession. The dearth of lucrative economic opportunities with their northern neighbors means less numbers of Africans are willing to risk their lives in often fatal journeys across the ocean. Experts emphasize that immigration is directly connected to the lure of economies elsewhere because people are driven by the hope for...

Armenians Struggle for Health Care and Medicines

Monika Mkhitaryan, Onnik Krikorian August 5, 2009
Faced with unemployment and lower remittances in the current global economic slowdown, Armenians face a vicious health care cycle. Since the country’s independence in 1991, the government has created numerous healthcare programs which generally succeeded in providing for the health needs of its people. About half of the total expenditure on health is financed through the private sector, of which...

Hungry World: A Silent Crisis Calls for Urgent Action

Marshall Bouton July 7, 2009
When the leaders of the eight industrialized countries meet in Italy this week, they will need to urgently address a silent crisis of hunger. With over a billion hungry people around the globe, it is critical that the developed world takes measures to increase agricultural productivity, writes Chicago Council on Global Affairs president Marshall Bouton. Such a solution is ever more pressing given...

Zimbabwe’s Slow-Burning Crisis Could Affect Africa

Donald Steinberg June 30, 2009
Zimbabwe was in world headlines when its opposition politician Morgan Tsvangirai was mercilessly beaten by government thugs. But now his joining a unity government has pushed the country to the background, even though Zimbabwe remains in dire straits. Deputy President of the International Crisis Group, Donald Steinberg analyzes the reasons for this lack of interest and argues that paying...

Economic Downturn Fuels Human Trafficking

Howard LaFranchi June 22, 2009
The global economic recession has resulted in a rise in human trafficking, according to a US State Department report. The report, issued annually and covering 2008, cites 52 countries and territories for failing to combat human trafficking, up from 40 the previous year. While the rise was caused in part by an increase in the number of countries included in the report and the higher standards by...

Globalization's Ugly Side: Sex Slavery

John Boudreau June 11, 2009
In the grim side to globalization, scores of young girls from Vietnam are being transported across national borders to serve as sex slaves in countries like China and Cambodia. The traffickers prey on the daughters of poor, often illiterate families who are oblivious to the danger or consequences of human trafficking. These girls, often lured by false promises of profitable employment, are only a...